Suspension system for ceiling panels



@ct. 21, 1969 w. ROBINSON, JR 3,473,282

SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR CEILING PANELS Filed 001:. 11, 196'? 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILBOURN ROBlNSON, JR.

BY p WW ATTORNEYS FIG I Oct 1969 w. ROBINSON, JR 3, 7 82 SUSPENSIONSYSTEM FOR CEILING PANELS Filed 00ill, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 6TNVENTOR H0 4 WKLBOURN ROBINSON, JR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 21, 1969 w,

SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR CEILING PANELS ROBINSON, JR

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 11, 1967 FIG IO INVENTOR MLBOURN ROBINSON,JR.

WM, W

ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 52-664 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A suspended ceiling hanger system constructed entirely ofrigid members includes horizontal angle irons rigidly attached tovertical studs disposed around the entire perimeter of the ceiling.Elongated parallel T-shaped runners are mounted in inverted position inspaced relation to the overhead from which the ceiling is to be hung andthese runners are rigidly connected by vertical spacer members toelongated angle irons which in turn are rigidly attached to horizontalstructural members such as floor joists from which the ceiling is to behung. Additional horizontal T-shaped panel supporting members areinterconnected at right angles to the T-shaped runners to define amulti-pocket grid for direct support of the ceiling panels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are numerous systems in the prior artfor supporting suspended type ceilings. One example of the prior artsuspension systems of the type to which the present invention isaddressed may be found in the US. patent to Findlay 3,084,401 of Apr. 9,1963. In all of the prior systems known to applicant, the panelsupporting members are hung from the overhead by means of wires or thelike such as shown at 12 in FIGURE 1 of the above-noted Findlay patent.Installation of these systems requires careful supervision of the lengthof each of the wire members to insure a level arrangement and this is adifficult thing to accomplish in actual practice. In addition, there islittle or no rigidity to the systems of the prior art due to the more orless flexible suspension and the panel supports therefore do not lendany structural rigidity to the building in which they are installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, thepanel supporting members which in assembled relation define amultipocket grid structure for direct support of the ceiling panels arerigidly connected to the overhead in such a way that the assembled gridstructure is particularly rigid and actually adds to the structuralintegrity of the entire building. In contrast to the wire supportedpanel supports of the prior art, the panel supporting members of thepresent invention are rigidly connected to the overhead by rigidstructural vertically disposed members attached at their lower ends tothe panel supporting members and at their upper ends to angle ironswhich in turn are rigidly aflixed to the floor joists or the like fromwhich the ceiling is to be hung.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of aportion of the panel supporting members in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGURES 1A and 1B are perspective and end views, respectively, of adecorator clip attachment for the suspension system of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view with parts broken away of an entire ceilingstructure;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the lines 33 of FIG- URE 1;

3,473,282 Patented Oct. 21, 1969 ice FIGURE 4 is a section on the lines4-4 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a section on the lines 55 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view showing the attachment of a strut to anoverhead angle iron;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thestructure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 7A and 7B are perspective views and end views respectively of adecorator clip attachment for the suspension system of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 8 is a section on the lines 88 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a section on the lines 99 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 10 is a section on the lines 1010 of FIGURE 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring first to FIGURE 1, thevertical studs of the building structure in which the ceiling is to beinstalled are indicated at 10 and the horizontal floor joists at 12. Abasically angle iron shaped member 14, a portion of which is shown inFIGURE 1, is rigidly connected by screws or nails to the studs 10 aroundthe entire perimeter of the room and at the desired spacing from thejoists 12. Angle irons 16 are rigidly connected as by screwing ornailing to the joists 12 and it is these angle irons which serve tosupport the panel supporting members in rigid spaced relation from theoverhead. The runners 18 which comprise the main panel supportingmembers are basically of T-shaped cross section and are mounted ininverted position by rigidly interconnecting them with the angle iron 16by means of rigid vertical spacer members 20. Preferably, the spacermembers 20 are attached to the angle iron 16 and runners 18 by machinescrews or the like. As will be apparent to those skilled in this art,the runners 18 will be installed at the same level as the angle irons14. The runners 18 and the angle irons 14 are interconnected at rightangles by further T-shaped panel supporting members 22. Connector plates16A and 18A may be used to assembly any desired running length of angleirons 16 and runners 18. As will be apparent in FIGURE 1, the runners 18in addition to their basic T shape, include on either side of the leg ofthe T a further vertical rib 19 parallel to the leg of the T and onedisposed on each side thereof. The angle iron 14 may also include ribs23. The cross members 22 as shown most clearly in FIGURES 3 and 5include end portions with a configuration adapted to mate with thevertical ribs of both the runners 18 and the angle irons 14 so that theymay be readily assembled following installation of the angle irons andthe runners. Assembly of the cross mem bers to interconnect the runnersand also to interconnect the outermost runners with the angle irons 14,then defines a grid structure having a multiplicity of pockets fordirect support of the ceiling panels as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5.Between the cross members 22 as shown in FIGURE 1 is an alternative fiatform of cross support member 22A which is useful for supporting panelsat points other than around their perimeter.

A decorator clip 25 for attachment to the runners is shown in FIGURES 1Aand 1B. This provides a convenient means for the hanging of displays ordecorations from the ceiling support.

Clip members 24 shown in FIGURE 4 may be used to engage the leg of theT-shaped runner as well as the upper surface of the ceiling panels.These clips may be used at any desired interval spaced longitudinallyalong the runners 18.

The above-described structure has numerous advantages not possessed bysuspension systems of the prior art and among these advantages may belisted the following:

The angle iron portions which attach to the overhead serve as a bracefor the overhead framing members; these members are predrilled in boththe vertical and horizontal surfaces to permit attachment at any pointin a building structure regardless of the spacing the joists or thelike. The predrilled openings in the main runner members by means of theinterconnecting struts at any desired location and greatly facilitateaccurate leveling of the panel supporting runners. If desired, theentire angle iron vertical strut and runner may be preassembled at floorlevel before attachment to the overhead structural members. The crossconnecting panel supporting members by virtue of the fact that they haveonly a friction fit with the ribs on the runners may be installed at anydesired location and may be readily shifted after installation toaccommodate variations in panel size or the like. This is in directcontrast with the above-mentioned Findlay patent in which the crossmembers are connectable only at fixed locations. Also, the panels may beinstalled on the hangers as soon as each hanger section is complete.This allows more work room for handling the panels and also increasesthe speed of their installation. All in all, the hanger system of thepresent invention is stronger, more easily installed, and can be adaptedto any desired system of heating, cooling, sound insulation, electricalinstallation, and there is little or no waste.

Referring now to FIGURE 7 of the attached drawings, substantially thesame basic structure is shown as that illustrated in FIGURE 1 exceptthat the runners 18B and the angle irons 16B are plane T and L shaped incross section, respectively, and include openings 26 to accommodatetongues 30 formed at the ends of the cross members. Connector clips 18Cand corresponding clips (not shown) may be used as in FIGURE 1 toassemble any desired running lengths of the runners 18B and angle irons16C. Also as in FIGURE 1 plane flat cross member 30A may be used alongwith cross member 30 to support panels at points other than around theirperimeters.

A decorator clip 25a similar to the one shown in FIG- URES 1A and 1B isshown in FIGURES 7A and 7B.

The vertical members 20 which form the rigid connection between therunners and the overhead supports may be assembled either in situ orthey may be assembled in advance so that an entire section, for example,can be first assembled and then fastened to the overhead. Also, thevertical spacers 20 may be afiixed to the angle iron and the runners bymeans of screw threaded fasteners or they may be welded into position.Preferably if the attachment is by way of welding, then an entiresection is first welded up and then hung on the overhead.

Fromt he foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art thatthere is herein shown and disclosed a new and useful hanger system forsuspended ceilings and the like.

I claim:

1. A suspended panel ceiling support system for attachment to thevertical and horizontal structural members of a building comprising incombination:

a first plurality of elongated rigid members having at least onevertical and one horizontal surface, and having a plurality of openingsthrough at least the horizontal surface thereof for attachment byfasteners to the horizontal structural members below which the ceilingis to be hung;

a plurality -of peripheral ceiling panel supporting members having atleast two surfaces at right angles to one another, at least the verticalsurface having a plurality of openings therein for attachments byfasteners to the vertical supporting members at the .4 desired ceilinglevel around the entire perimeter or the ceiling, the other of saidsurfaces then extending horizontally into the interior of the area inwhich the ceiling is to be hung;

a plurality of rigid elongated substantially T-shaped panel supportingrunners;

rigid struts supporting said runners in inverted position in verticallyspaced relation below said first plurality of members at the desiredceiling height;

and secondary panel supporting members interconnecting said T-shapedmembers at substantially right angles thereto and also interconnectingthose of said runners nearest the periphery of the ceiling with saidperipheral ceiling panel supporting members, said runners and saidperipheral supporting members including vertical ribs and said secondarypanel supporting members including end portions which engage with bothsides of said ribs.

2. A suspended panel ceiling support system for attachment to thevertical and horizontal structural members of a building comprising incombination:

a first plurality of elongated rigid members having at least onevertical and one horizontal surface, and having a plurality of openingsthrough at least the horizontal surface thereof for attachment byfasteners to the horizontal structural members below which the ceilingis to be hung;

a plurality of peripheral ceiling panel supporting members having atleast two surfaces at right angles to one another, at least the verticalsurface having a plurality of openings therein for attachment byfasteners to the vertical supporting members at the desired ceilinglevel around the entire parimeter or the ceiling, the other of saidsurfaces then extending horizontally into the interior of the area inwhich the ceiling is to be hung; plurality of rigid elongatedsubstantially T-shaped panel supporting runners;

rigid struts supporting said runners in inverted position in verticallyspaced relation below said first plurality of members at the desiredceiling height;

and secondary panel supporting members interconnecting said T-shapedmembers at substantially right angles thereto and also interconnectingthose of said runners nearest the periphery of the ceiling with saidperipheral ceiling panel supporting members, said runners and saidpheripheral supporting members including openings in their horizontalpanel supporting surfaces and said secondary panel supporting membersterminating in tongues at right angles to their length which engage insaid slots.

3. A system as defined by claim 1 in which said struts are welded tosaid runners and said first members.

4. A system as defined by claim 1 in which said struts are attached tosaid runners and said first members by screw fasteners.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,281,109 4/1942 Olsen 52-489 X2,822,584 2/1958 Urbain 52-488 X 3,070,851 l/1963 Stephens 52-4753,084,401 4/1963 Findlay 52-476 3,359,697 12/1967 Smith et al 52-476 XFRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner P. C. FAW, JR, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,473,282 October 21 1969 Wilbourn Robinson, Jr.

shown below:

Column 3,

line 8, after "in the" insert of the angle ir vertical surface onspermit attachment of the Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

